A COCAINE 'delivery driver' who was caught with 20 snap bags of class A drugs has been jailed.

Preston Crown Court heard how 32-year-old Vasilica Alamaru, of Horwich, was also found to have £800 in cash from earlier drug deals.

Prosecuting, Paul Brookwell said at 5.30am on June 20 police saw Alamaru's car in Moor Road, Chorley, and when they ran a vehicle registration check they found it was linked to drug dealing.

When police searched Alamaru and the vehicle they found the drugs, which had a street value of up to £1,050, the cash and three mobile phones.

Mr Brookwell said one of the mobile phones contained a series of messages containing postcodes, which Alamaru was being sent to to deal drugs.

Mr Brookwell said: "The defendant made no comment during the course of his police interview. He did provide a prepared statement. In it he stated he had won the money in question in a casino, he was addicted to cocaine, he had bought the phone in question off his dealer and when he was stopped he was in the area to buy drugs."

Alamaru, of Robinson Street, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property.

Defending James Heyworth said his client, who has an 11-year-old son back in Romania had come to the UK around 18 months ago and had been working as a labourer. He said the drug-dealing offence was out of character for his client, who has previous convictions for dishonesty offences in Germany and Holland.

Mr Heyworth said: "He had worked as a labourer in the London area and only moved to the North West approximately two months prior to the offence. He says he has no idea why he got involved in dealing drugs. He was essentially acting as a delivery driver for class A drugs."

Jailing Alamaru for three years, Recorder Sarah Johnston said: "I accept this offence was out of character with regards to your previous offending. It's to your shame you have an 11-year-old son in Romania who deserves a father who is an important part of his life."

Recorder Johnston told Alamaru he should expect to be deported once he is released from prison.